I am a firm believer of do what works!!! they do grow out of it, although at the time it seems that they might not??? I went the controlled crying with the older kids, but we were'nt very successful because i could'nt stand it. Its just to cruel, with my last DD we kind of co-sleep she has a cot next to our bed and sleeps with us whenever... I would feed her to sleep wait about 10 mins then she is in deep sleep and transfer her to the cot. Some days I slept with her (but that was for me) I got to a stage where I refused to feed her when she woke, perhaps your man is getting around that stage and probablly is after the comfort more??
My DD is 14 months now and sleeps well in her cot and with us, she is relaxed and will happily play in her cot...Thats another suggestion, let him play in his cot, keep something that is really fun just for in there, you could stay intially then leave for brrief periods of time, make sure you say "mummy is going to the toilet" etc before you leave then come back in a few mins, gradually build the time up... also they say boys really benifit from leg wrapping, I beleive it s the security?? Put the fan/ aircon on wrapp his little legs and see if it makes a difference.
Good luck!!!! remember in a few months time you will wonder why you were worried about it all.